May 7, 2008

20-year-old assaults Redwood City pedestrian

Victim chased attackers down; street gang member was arrested

By Shaun Bishop / Daily News Staff Writer

A 20-year-old man was arrested early Sunday morning for beating a Redwood City pedestrian with a baseball bat and robbing him of his jewelry, police said.

Edwin Jonathan Rodriguez, a member of the Norteno street gang, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and robbery after the incident shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday, said Capt. Chris Cesena.

Rodriguez and an accomplice allegedly approached a man who was walking on Stambaugh Street near Chestnut Street. The duo hit the victim with a black wooden baseball bat and kicked him, demanding he give them his jewelry, Cesena said.
The victim complied, giving the two a watch, a gold crucifix chain, three gold rings and a cell phone worth a total of about $1,200, police said.

When the two ran away, though, the victim got up and chased the suspects, Cesena said. He called police, who were able to corner Rodriguez on Buckeye Street and arrest him, but the second suspect got away and has not been caught, Cesena said.

The victim escaped with minor injuries, including a lacerated finger and lip and pain in his knee, chest, back and head. There is no indication the victim is a member of a gang, Cesena said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Redwood City police at 650-780-7100.


E-mail Shaun Bishop at sbishop@dailynewsgroup.com.